Print Page - Another rescue off the tracks

From the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27705555)

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Soldier: 'I rescued woman from Strood railway tracks'

4 June 2014 Last updated at 18:53 BST

Soldier Billy McPhail has explained to the BBC how he jumped from a railway platform and rescued a woman from the tracks as a train approached.

Mr McPhail jumped from the platform at Strood station in Kent after the woman had fallen moments before a high-speed train arrived.

Footage from a camera onboard the train shows the reaction on the platform as the train approached.

Mr McPhail said he would do the same thing if he was in a similar situation again.

Here's another example of someone risking their life to rescue someone from the tracks (this was last Thursday 29/5/14).
Despite what he says, the 6:02 does stop at Strood (or else it wouldn't have a time, would it?) - but there are some through trains. And the speed limit on all lines through Strood appears to be 20 mph or thereabouts, so as it happens the train was always going to be able to stop.

According to the Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2648220/Dramatic-moment-soldier-climbs-live-rails-pull-woman-safety-falls-path-train.html), it was the 6:05, and there was a train passing on the other track (not supported by RealTimeTrains), and again it would be going slowly.

None of which alters the principles, or his personal bravery, of course.

There is an official comment in the Mail item:

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Rail operator Southeastern Trains has now launched full investigation into the incident.
A spokesman for the company congratulated Mr McPhail on his bravery but warned of the dangers of jumping onto live railway tracks.
He said: 'What Mr McPhail did was commendable - he took it upon himself to save this woman^s life.
'However Strood Station has a live electrical line and our advice is usually in the event of an emergency to contact station staff and they will call the signallers to cut power to the line.
'However Mr McPhail acted on instinct and, without any regard for his own safety, saved this woman^s life.'

Which is moderately sensible, I guess.

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